Metal car roof



F. DITCHFIELD METAL CAR RooF May 5, 19,31.

3 Shee'os--Sheetv 3 Filed Jan. 9, 1929 Patented May V, 1931 Fries rnANK Dierenriem, or CLEVELAND, OHIO, AssIGNOn ugo riin `YoUNes'rOwN STEEL DOOR COMPANY, or oiinvnIJANnfoHio, A CORPORATION or OHIO METAL 'can Rooi@` Application ledrJanuary 9, 1929. Serial No. 531,373.

rllhis invention relates to improvements in metal car roofs.

One Object of my invention is to provide metal roof for cars which may be economically fabricated, applied anc repaired.

Another object of my invention is to provide a metal car roof which is free from the usual ridges to the end that excessive collection of moisture, snow, sleet and the like and wind resistance, are minimized. Y Another object isto pro-vide a metal car roof which entirely avoids the use of -any rivets through tlieroof sheets withrconsequent minimization of the tearing or corroding of the sheets. i

Another object of the invention is to provide a metal roof structure wherein the application or removal or replacement or inspection of the roof sheets may be effected with a minimum of labor,`without the use of any special tools or equipment and with-u out destructiveeffect on any element.

Another object of the invention 1s to so arrange the Yassembly of roof sheets, cailines and cap plates that such moisture as may enter any roofjoint is automatically drained 'off from the interior withoutdangerof the moisture dripping into the car on thelading. Other objects of the invention are To pro vide a complete weather seal around vthe en- -tii'e roof; to allowV for such flexibility in the roof sheets as conforms to good practice, and to provide simple and effective means for attaching the usual running boards without injury to the roof sheets. i

Other ob'ects of the inventionvwill more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings; In the drawings formino apart of this specification, Figure 1 is a broken top plan of a car showing my improved roof applied thereto. Figure 2 is an elevation of the end of the car roof. FigureV 3 is al broken trans'- verse sectional view upon an enlarged` scale, correspondingto the line.- 3--3 of Figure 1. Figure e is a detail sectional view-corresponding to the lined-f4 of Figure 3. VFigure 5 is a `detail sectional view corresponding to the formto the slope of the roof.

Y porting line 5 5 of Figure' 3. Figure 6 isV alongitudinal, partV sectional view, part elevational view, the section corresponding to the ridge a durable thoroughly waterproofed flexible of the YroofV and one fof the carlines being is a broken, end elevation of the car showing the roof structure. Figure 8 is an enlarged verticalsectional view, corresponding to the lineS-S of Figure 7. Figure 9 is a part hori- Zonta-l sectional view, part top plan, the section corresponding tothe line 9-9 of Figure 7. Y And Figure 10 isa view similar to Figure 8, showing a modified form of'construction at the end of the car. Y

'In the particular embodiment of my iinprovements shown in Figures 1 to 9 ofthe drawings, 10 indicate the usual Z-bar side plates of the car, each having an upstanding Yflange 11, a horizontal web 12 and a depend- 'thecaig a pressed end plate is employed, also a Z-formation the same having a depending outerflange A15 a. horizontal web 16 and an upstanding 'vertical flange 17, the latter being tapered from the center to each. side, toconf ln carrying out my invention, I use specially formed carlines, each which is designated i generally bythe reference character A and the details of which are best illustra-ted in Figures 3, fl andS.r As will be understood,

the carlines A are spaced longitudinally of ,the roof the usual desired distanceA apart. 2 1 Each carline is of generally channel cross section, having Va lower horizontal web 18, up-V standing side flanges 19--19 and top oppositely extended and'liorizontally disposed suplongitudinal flanges 20-20. The web section l is given a gradual slope from the center line of the car roof to each side, as indicated best Vby the dotted line 118 in Figure 3. The depth of the side flanges 19 is gradually reduced lfrom the centerline of the r car to each side, as also best shown in Figure 3, the change in width correspondingto the desired slope'or pitch of the roof sheets. At each end, the carlines A are bent downward- Y ly at right angles, as indiated at 21 Figure 3,

f. purpose hereinafter described.

the lower edges of the downturned ends being disposed approximately midway the height of the side plate flange 11. An offset 22 is formed in each depending end 21 to accommodate the upwardly extending flange 23 of the horizontally disposed angle iron which is riveted to the outer face of the side plate flange 11, said angle iron having a horizontally disposed and outwardly extending continuous flange 24 for the purpose hereinafter described. As will be understood, each angle iron 23-24 extends the full length of the car side and the ends thereof abut the proj ected end portions 25 of the vertical flanges 26 of corres ondino ane'le members riveted P e e to the outer face of the upstanding flange 17 of the end plate, as best shown in Figures 8 and 9. Said angle member has also an outwardly extended horizontal flange 27 for the In this connection, it will be understood that the angle member 26-27 at each end of the car slopes in accordance with the pitch of the roof and, further, the upstanding` flange 26 is preferably formed with an inturned narrow supporting ange 28 on which the adjacent roof sheet is supported, as shown in Figure 8.

Roof sheets, indicated generally by the reference character B, are employed, each of which is of a width corresponding` to the distance between end plate and nearest carline or the distance between carlines. Each said roof sheet extends from car side to car side andisslopedupwardlytothe center line of the car to provide the desiredV pitch for the roof and, along each edge, each sheet is formed with a downturned marginal flange 29, the flanges 29 of two adjacent sheets depending within the upwardly facing channel cai-line A, as best shown in Figure 4. In the case of the end roof sheets, those edges of the sheets at the extreme ends of the car are rounded over, as indicated at 30, and then extend vertically downwardA` as indicated at 31, so as to project below the horizontal flange 2T of the end angle member 26-27- Each end roof sheet is further rounded at the car corners, as indicated at 32 in Figure 9. At each end, each roof sheet B is rounded as indicated a 33 and thence terminates in an overhanging dependingflange 34, the latter extending below the horizontal flange 24 of the corresponding side angle member 23-24, as shown in Figure 3.

The sheets B are made of sufficient width so that the depending side flanges 29 thereof will be inwardly spaced an appreciable distance, namely, from the side flanges 19 of the carlines, as shown in Figure 4, thus permitting a certain amount of shift of the sheets relative to the carlines, to take care of any weaving or distortion of the roof when the car is in service.

To weather-protect the joints of adjacent roof sheets B at each carline, I employ a cap plate designated generally by the reference character C, said cap plate C being of generally T-cross section and having oppositely extended horizontally disposed flanges 35-35 and a depending centrally disposed web 3G. The flanges 35 are made of such width that they not only overlap the adjacent portions of the roof sheets but also overlap, to an appreciable extent, the supporting flanges 2O of the cai-lines. The web 3G, at the center line of the car, is of lesser depth than the depth of the channel carlinc A, as indicated by the dotted line 136 in Figure 3. Intermediate the center line and the sides of the car, the web 36 is chamfered as indicated by the dotted lines 236, so as to maintain a space between the lower edges 13G-236 and the web section 18 of the carline and thus permit any moisture that may enter the oints and which comes on the depending web 36, to drip off into the channel. carline and thus allow the moisture to drain down the sloping channel carline without danger of the moisture collecting and remaining in spots which might otherwise cause corrosion. In this connection, it will be noted that any moisture dripping into the channel carlines will readily flow off the ends thereof and drip down first onto the side angle member 23-24 and off of the latter at each carline. Each cap plate C is further bent at each side of the car, as indicated at 37, and the web 36 is further chamfered at each end on the depending section, as indicated at 336 in Figure 3. To secure the cap plates C in place and hence to maintain the roof sheets in place, the following means are employed. Preferably, at each side of the center of each carline and about at the middle, is utilized a tapered securing pin designated generally by the reference character D. The latter has a head 38, a tapered shank 39 and, intermediate its ends and on the portion of the shank within the channel carline, is formed with two annular grooves 40 40, for the purpose hereinafter specified. The pins D are eX- tended horizontally through alined openings in the side flanges 19 of the carline and, when driven home, are secured in place by cotters 41 and washers 42 between the cotters and the adjacent cai-line, as clearly shown in Figure 4.

Referring to Figure 4, it will also be noted that the depending web 36 of the cap plate C is provided with an opening 43 to receive the shank of the pin D and, due to the tapered formation of the pin shank, the latter will act as a wedge in pulling the cap plate C tightly down into position. Where the securing pins D are located, the depending edge flanges 29 of the roof sheets B may be notched, as indicated at 44,.to accommodate the pins, as will. be obvious.

A generally similar arrangement is employed toV fasten each of the downturned ends of the roof sheets. Referring to Figure 3, one of the securing pins is indicated at E, the

and such moisture collects on the latter having its head at the outer end between Which and the adjacent portion of the sheet is `interposed a Washer 45. ln this instance, the pin is extended through the flange 28 of the angle member 2? 24 and the upstandiiig tlaiige ll of the sido plate and secured by cotter 46 with interposed Washer 4'?. rlhe pin E is also formed with an annular groove48 beneath the sheet, for the purpose hereinafter described. By referring to Figures 8 and 9, it Will be seen that similar attaching-means are employed, for the overhangiiig flanges of theendniost roof sheets.

lilith the securing and attaching means described, it Will be observed that the roof sheets are tightly clamped against the carlines and end plates of the car Without any holes or perforations in the roof sheets and Without the Vnecessity of using any rivets. Further,

the case of the pins D, the latter are obviously i on the interior of the carbeloW the roof sheets and thereby efciently Weather-protec-ted.v l the eventV any moisture enters through the joints of the roof sheets at the carlines or at the sides of the car in the case of the pins E, securing pins, it is evidentA that the annular grooves 40 and 48 are vso placed that such moisture cannot run the full length of the pin slianks but Will collect in the grooves and drip from the sharp shoulders provided thereby; that is, the annular grooves 40 and 48 automatically serve to insure dripping of moisture from the pins before it can flow to the interior of th cai' or to the lading.

Atthe ends of the car, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, l preferably employ short sections of angles 49 Where each pin E is used andthrough which the shanks of the latter are extended so as to preventlifting of the end portions of the roof sheets, it being understood thatsaid angle sections 49. are riveted to the end angle member 26-27- Referring to the modification shown in Figure l0, the only difference over the construction illustrated iii Figure 8 is that the end member 126 is specially formed With an eXtra de enclin(r section 50 and an outturned lov-.ier b horizontal flange 5l, a flange l2? being re tained and the edge of which engages the downturned flange of the corresponding end sheet. j

With the construction so described, it Will be observed that after the carlines are in place, the roof sheets may be very quickly and easily applied and the cap plates also Y applied and secured in position by inserting the pins D and E. Further, the structure at the joints is such as to eliminate the usual ridges, thus preventing the' banking up of snow or sleet and also reducing `the Wind resistance. Further, by referring to Figures 3 and 8, particularly, it Will be seeiithat a very effective Weather-sealed oint is provided entirely around 'the car roof Where the depending flanges of the roof sheets bear against the outer edges of the outwardly extended flanges 24 andV 27 of the side and eno angle members, respectively, thus minimizing the possibility of rain or the like being driven up under the roof sheetsfivheii the car is in motion,

the saine time avoiding the necessity of 'l .voting the sheets to the sides orends of the "ar, as heretofore thought necessary.

Referring to Figures l andv 2,it Will be seen that the attaching brackets52-52 for the usual running boards may be directly riveted or spot Weldedjto the flanges of the cap plates Gland before thelatter are placed in position. If rivets are employed to attach .the brackets 52 to the cap plate C, the saine may be so located as to bring the rivet holes inside ofthe roof sheet flanges 29 so that, should any moisture enterthrough these rivet holes, the same Will drip into the channel car- `lines. ln the-case ofthe lateral running boards, the stiles thereof may be secured to the main ruiming board as indicated at and the lower or outer ends of said stiles as'shown inl*1 igure 2 may beriveted as indicated at 54 to a short section of channel iron 55 which inturn is riveted to thehorizontal Web of the side plate'beyond the doWnturned flange of the roof sheet thus further avoiding any use of rivets passing through the roof sheets.

VIn the case of the end supporting` brackets forthe running board the latter will preferably be extended down to and riveted to the horizontal Web section 16 of the end plate 17 although the details ofthis are not deemed necessary of illustration in thedraiving's.

Referring more particularly'to Figure 3 of the drawings attention is called' tothe fact that an air pocket is .forinedbyf the angle flange 24 the `portion of thereof sheet which depends therebeloivthe opposite portion of.`

the side plate flange ll. and a portion of the web, l0, of the latter. Any rain snow or the like which may be driven beneath the edge of i the roof sheet is caught in this pocket and its momentum destroyed so that, practically,

be caught in a secondfpocket above the flangia-i 24 and because of its momentum having been practically totally destroyed, it is substantially impossible for any moisture to pass up While Cil iioV

over the edge'of the side plate flange ll. Sim- Y u Vilarly, pocket effect is provided at the endsr ofthe car as is shovvn in Figure 8, below the angle flange 27, and although this pocket is not quite as effective as that at the sides of the car, it is inorethan compensated for by the fact that a second line of Weather seal is provided between the roof sheets and the supporting flange 28. In the modification of Figure lO, an air pocket below the sealing flange is provided of substantially identical form as that shown in Figure 3.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out the invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications as come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

l. In a metal car roof, the combination with side plates each having an upstanding v flange; of a member extended lengthwise of each side plate flange and each having an outwardly projecting flange; carlines; roof sheets extending between carlines and having their ends overhanging and engaging said outi yardly extending flanges to form a weather seal therewith; and readily detachable means including devices extended through the sheets and side plates for retaining said sheets in position.

2. In a metal car roof, the combination with Z-side plates each having one flange thereof extending upwardly; of an angle member extending lengthwise of and secured to each upstanding flange; the angle member having one of its flanges extended horizontally outward; carlines secured to said side plates; roof sheets extending between carlines and having their ends overhanging and engaging the outwardly extended flanges of said angle irons to form a weather seal therewith; and means for retaining the sheets in place including detachable devices extended through the roof sheets and side plates.

3. In a metal car roof, the combination with Z-side plates each having one liange thereof extending upwardly; of an angle member extending lengthwise of and secured to each upstanding flange; the angle member having one of its flanges extended horizontally outward; carlines secured to said side plates; roof sheets extending between carlines and having their ends overhanging and engaging the outwardly extended flanges of said angle irons to form a weather seal therewith; and means for retaining the sheets in place; said means including readily detachable pins extended through the sheets and side plates.

4. In a metal car roof having side plates, the combination with channel section Vcarlines having the channel formations opening upwardly, the web sections of the carlines sloping downwardly from the center line of the car to each side, the ends of said carlines aeing bent downwardly at the sides of the car and engaging over the side plates; roof sheets between carlines and extending continuously from side to side of the car; said roof sheets having edge flanges extended within the carlines; T-section cap plates; one

at each carline and each having its web depending within the carline; and means for securing the cap plates to the carlines whereby any moisture entering the oints between Vcap plates and sheets will be automatically drained to the sides of the car by the carlines.

5. In a metal car roof, the combination with roof frame elements; of roof sheets; and means for retaining the sheets in place including securing pins extended through the frame elements beneath the roof7 each of said pins being formed, intermediate its ends, with shoulders providing dripping edges for moisture whereby to prevent moisture flowing lengthwise of and to the ends of said pins.

6. As an article of manufacture; a securing pin for metal car roofs; said pin having a drip-forming annular groove intermediate the ends of its shank whereby to prevent flow of moisture to the ends of the pin.

7. In a metal car roof, the combination with an end plate; of a roof sheet extended beyond said end plat-e and provided with a downturned flange; extended below the top edge of the end plate; and means extending between said downturned flange and end plate providing a weather seal joint therebetween.

S. In a metal car roof, the combination with an end plate having an upstanding flange; of an angle member secured to the outer face of said flange; said angle member having an outwardly extended flange; and an end roof sheet extended beyond said end plate and provided with a depending flange engaging said outwardly extended flange of the angle member and providing therewith a weather seal.

9. In a metal car roof; the combination with an end plate; of a roof sheet extended beyond said end plate and provided with a downturned flange extended below the top edge of the end plate; means extending between said flange and end plate providing a weather seal joint therebetween; and detachable means securing said overhanging flange of the roof sheet to the end plate.

10. In a metal car roof; the combination with side and end plates; of angle members extending lengthwise of said plates on the outer faces thereof and each of said angle members having an outwardly extended flange; and roof sheets having flanges extending downwardly over and engaging said outwardly extendin flanges of the angle members along the car side and ends of the car and forming therewith a weather seal, one angle member at each corner overlapping the end of the corresponding adjacent angle member and forming a seal therewith.

11. In a metal car roof; the combination with a Z-bar side plates, each having one flange thereof extending upwardly; of a plurality of carlines extending between side plates, each carline being of channel forma- ISU tion with the channel opening upwardly and provided with upper horizontally disposed supporting flange-s, each carline, at its ends, being downwardly bent over and secured to the corresponding side plate; an angle bar extended lengthwise of and secured to the outer face of each upstanding flange of a side plate, each angle bar having an outwardly extending flange; roof sheets extending between carlines and from one side of the car to the other, each roof sheet having edge fianges depending within the corresponding carlines, each roof sheet also having its ends downturned and engaging with the corresponding outturned flanges of the angle bars; a cap plate of T-cross section associated with each carline, the fianges of the cap plates overlying adjacent portions of the roof sheets and the supporting flanges of the carline and the web thereof depending within the oarline; and securing pins, each extended through alined openings in the side flanges of the carline and web of the cap plate, said pins being applied from the interior of the. car.

12. In a metal car roof, the combination with carlines; of side and end plates; members secured to said plates and having outstanding flanges; and roof sheets having integral portions extended below said flanges along the sides and ends of the kcar andengageable with said flanges, said flanges and adjacent portions of the plates and the depending portions of the sheets forming an air pocket to destroy momentum of rain or the with side plates, each provided with an outv n wardly extending horizontally disposed flange below the top edge thereof; of car-l lines, each carline being substantially of channel formation with the channel opening upwardly, the outer ends of said carlines being bent downwardly over the side plates and of similar cross section in the downturned portions; roof sheets extending transversely of the roof and having adjacent .W flanges bent downwardly and extending within the channel formation of the carlines; said roof sheets being also bent downwardly at their outer ends and in engagement with the downturned portions of the Y like and minimize danger of passage between said weather seal joint.

13. In a metal car roof, the combination with an end plate; of an end roof sheet having a flange extending down over and in spaced relation to the end plate; means interposed between the end plate and said sheet flange and forming therewith a weather seal; and means for keying said overhanging flange of the roof sheet to the end plate to prevent lifting of the sheet.

14. In a metal car roof, the combination with side plates, each side plate'comprising a Z-bar with the web disposed horizontally and the inner flange extended upwardly; of a member secured to the upstanding ange of each Z-bar side plate, e'ach member having a horizontally outwardly extended fiange spaced above the web of the side plate; carlines extending from side plate to side plate; metal roof sheets, the roof sheets having outer flange portions extending downwardly past said horizontal flanges of said members and with the lower edges of said flanges closelyradjacent the webs of the Z- bar side plates, said downturned flanges engaging said horizontal flanges whereby to provide a weatherseal therewith and an air pocket below the weatherseal; and means for securing said roof sheets in place.

15. In a metal car roof, the combination 

